Toy catapult



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. POHLMAN- AND HARRY THOMPSON, OF FREMONT, OHIO.

' TOY CATAPU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,379, dated May 2, lesa.

Application filed August 6, 1881.

To all lwhom it may concern: v

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. POHLMAN and HARRY THOMPSON, of Fremont, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovemen ts in Toy Oatapults; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which*- Figurelisaperspective view of ourimproved toy catapult. Fig. 2 represents the handle detached. Fig. 3 represents the elastic cord or band with the stone pouch or pocket detached from the handle, and Fig. 4 represents a modified construction of the handle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Our invention relates to devices for slnging or shooting stones, marbles, and other missiles; and it consists in the detailed construction and combination ot' parts of a device or apparatus in the nature ot' asinall portable catapult, as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The invention is designed as an improvement upon the patent granted to J abez Smith April 5,1881, No. 239,865; and the essential feature of novelty consists in means forwithdrawing lthe pouch without compressing its sides against the missile, and thus impedng the liberationof said missile.

In the annexed drawings, A is the handle, of suitable size, into one end of which is inserted a forked or bifurcated rod or stout wire, B, held rmly in place by a i'errule, b, which also prevents the handle from splitting. Each of lthe arms of the bifurcated rod B is'bent to form a spring-hook, a, a, at its outer end.

C is a strap, of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material; or a iieXible coiled spring may be used, if desired.

At each end of this (No model.)

strap is a loop, eye, or small ring, c, which is attached to the endsof rod B by its springhooks a.; and to the middle of the strap is secured a small pouch or pocket, D, of leather or other suitable material, in which the missile is placed. To' the back ot' this pocket is fastened a small strap or loop, d, which serves as a handle in pulling the strap back in operating the device, as the pouch with the stone in it does not aii'ord a ready means for holding.

In operating this apparatus the missile is placed in the pouch, the handle A being held in the right hand while the pouch is being pulled back by its strap or tongue d with the left hand. By letting the tongue go suddenly the missile is shot out of its pouch with Vconsiderable force, and with a little practice the operator will soon acquire skill enough to hit small objects, suoli as birds or fruit, even when the birds are on the wing.

If desired, the construction ot' the parts A B may be simplified by making the handle in one piece with the bifurcated rod B, as shown in lfig.V 4.

Having thus described our improvement, we do not claim broadly the combination ot' the forked handle and elastic band having the stone-pocket; but

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a toy sling or catapult ot' the described construction, the elastic band C, having the pocket D, and strap or loop d, aliixed to the back of said pocket, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specilied.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereunto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. POHLMAN. HARRY THOMPSON.

Vitnesses:

W. M. PARKER, A. ABENDROTH. 

